Vol. 552 No. 2
1 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the steps he proposes to take to prevent the illegal labelling of untraceable Argentinean and Brazilian beef as Irish beef for use in the catering trade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12108/02]
Supplies of beef from non-EU countries, including Argentina or Brazil, may enter the EU and be sold legally anywhere on the EU market. This beef can be imported into the EU on payment of EU tariffs or under certain agreed preferential quotas operated under the WTO. A condition of entry to the EU is that the beef must meet all EU veterinary and hygiene standards. Although Ireland exports more than 90% of its beef production, quantities of third country beef have been imported into Ireland under these arrangements. These imports have been largely used for further processing, the bulk of which is then re-exported. A small quantity of imported beef is also used in the catering trade.
EU regulations on beef labelling require operators involved in the marketing of beef to label their beef with a reference number to permit traceability to the animal or group of animals from which the beef was derived, details of the slaughterhouse and the de-boning hall and details of the origin of the animal. With regard to beef imported into the EU, for which not all of this information is available, operators marketing that beef are required, at a minimum, to label its origin as non-EC and to indicate the country of slaughter.
While these regulations require that beef sold to the catering trade must be labelled so as to provide the caterer with the necessary information to assure traceability there is, however, no obligation under these regulations for caterers themselves to forward that information to their customers. In the absence of such an obligation, Bord Bia has introduced its Féile Bia initiative, which I fully support, where participating restaurants, hotels, etc, agree to indicate the source of the food they serve so that all consumers, whether they purchase beef in retail or catering establishments, are fully aware of the origin of the product. I believe that this initiative deserves the fullest possible participation. While I am not aware of any instances where third country imported beef has been illegally labelled as Irish, it is clear that there is sufficient quantity of top quality Irish beef available to fully supply the Irish catering sector.
This is another occasion on which the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development is not in the House to answer questions. He was not available to attend the joint committee yesterday. I know he has duties elsewhere, but it is clear that, at the end of this term, the Minister has little regard for his obligations to the House.
Is the Minister of State aware that an estimated 13 million portions of beef consumed in Irish catering establishments per annum come here from third countries? Is he aware there are serious allegations that a number of importers are re-labelling imported beef as Irish beef and making it available to the catering trade? Does the Minister agree that the measures currently in place for the treatment, labelling and description of third country beef coming into the EU are appallingly inadequate and that there is no guarantee, for example, that we are not importing into this country beef from parts of Argentina where foot and mouth disease is endemic and beef from parts of Brazil where nobody knows what feedstuff is being used and which may include hormones?
I am aware of allegations being made in the trade, but proving them is more difficult. I am aware that some people are reprocessing, but that is mainly for the purposes of sending it out of the country again. I would not be totally happy with the obligations under the world trade agreements about the labelling of beef coming in or its traceability. Irish caterers have a duty to support home industry, particularly when we have to export so much of our beef and the quality of Irish beef is now so good that they should be proud to take part in the Féile Bia. I have heard allegations that some restaurants, which support that initiative, use other beef. Bord Bia has been asked to investigate that matter.
If these allegations are true, does the Minister agree that the Féile Bia initiative is being undermined? Can the Minister outline the inspection and control procedures that are applied in the case of third country beef that is imported here for processing and is then re-exported? Is the Minister confident that all the beef that is imported for re-processing is exported again?
In answer to the last question, I could not be fully confident that is the case.
The Minister should be confident. That is his job
I appreciate that. Bord Bia is investigating the matter because it is important that Irish beef does not become associated with the taste of foreign beef. I am not totally happy about the traceability of the beef that comes into this country under the world trade agreements. I would be happy if people would consistently look for and demand Irish beef.
The Minister's Department has to control it.
No, Bord Bia operates that scheme.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development is the responsible agency.
Bord Bia initiated the scheme and is particularly good on the marketing side. It is following up any allegations that were made directly to it or to the Department.
